Fans wait for hours to catch action at Wimbledon

GET, SET, GO: While the sun is still very low the crowds are sorted into orderly queues.

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Keywords: Fans, Wimbledon

London: In the tennis world, its official name is simply, 'The Championships'.

But that may be the only simple thing about Wimbledon. The tournament has evolved into a sort of cultural icon and at times the quest to get inside can rival the battles on the court.

Wimbledon is the only Grand Slam tennis tournament to sell some tickets on the day of the event but you have to be dedicated to be in with a chance. Each night thousands camp out hoping for success.

While the sun is still very low the crowds are sorted into more orderly queues.

"There's no panic. There's no panic." "Anybody ready to move, start walking forward.."

Chief Steward Andrew Gairdner has been herding tennis fans here for 32 years.

Asked if over the years he had seen the crowds change, Gairdner replied, "I think they've been very similar. The great thing about them is that they're all very keen tennis fans. All they really want to do is to get into Wimbledon."

It's hard to beat Richard Hess' enthusiasm. He's been doing this since 1991.

"It's the people. It's the tennis. It's the culture," Hess said about Wimbledon. "We're off now ladies and gentlemen. Pick your bags up," he shouted as the queue started to move.

And so the slow march begins. A long, winding snake of very polite sports fans stand up.

"You can't help but notice how patient and well behaved everyone is. It's all very organised. All very civilised. It's all very English."

And the English have a reputation for enjoying a good queue. When asked how long she was prepared to wait a young woman replied, "Hours and hours."

Patience brings rewards and more than two hours after leaving their tents.. the fans enter the gates of Wimbledon.

"It feels great. I've come all the way from Jerusalem for this. I've been looking forward to this for my whole life."

A heroic display of sporting endurance and these guys are just the fans.